Here is St. Basil's Mini Sock

This is a case of finishing gone wrong. Now I'm the first person to be empathetic to the risk and difficulty that comes along with finishing needlework. I enjoy my attempts at it and am gentle with myself, taking into consideration that I am self trained. My turn around time (quick) and labor cost (free) are often the driving factors when doing my own finishing work. What was that old adage, penny wise and pound foolish? I admit it, I've been there a few times.

On your left is my St. Basil's mini sock that I stitched last year; a glorious canvas designed by Shelly Tribbey. I enjoyed working on it using a variety of stitches and threads, and the tassel was great fun to create. I didn't have a stitch guide but managed because of the intricity of the painted design. Thank you Ms. Tribbey.

After completing the stitching in July, I decided to send St. Basil off to be finished into it's final form; not as a stocking, but rather as a front design on a box pillow. There was to be a variety of fabrics contrasting in color, texture and pattern, cording, a shirred gusset, tassels and the stocking was to be positioned slightly tilted clockwise with a tassel hanging from the upper left corner. I basically wanted a whimsical feel not unlike the color and pattern variations characteristic of Mackenzie Childs http://www.mackenzie-childs.com/. Between my suggestions and website examples of their work, I felt confident. Often times in life we don't always get what we expect and this was the case here.

So now over a year later, with the pillow hidden from view, I am debating whether I am up for another finishing job or just send it off to the finisher I currently use and am satisfied with. I'm not worried about it being finished for this holiday season, but more afraid that it is beyond my skill level. I toyed with leaving the sock on this pillow and try to embellish it with tassels, added cord, etc. Any recommendations out there?

I know Thanksgiving

isn't even here yet, but I'm already starting to get my Christmas stuff out of the closet. I stitched this 3-dimensional ice skate last year. It's designed by the talented Shelly Tribbey. I finished at least 4 Tribbey canvases last year and am obviously very attracted to her whimsical design sense. Especially for Christmas stuff, the whimsier the better.

The canvas came with the skate blades but not a stitch guide. I first spied the finished skate at Sara's of Breckenridge in, where else, Breckenridge, CO. It's a small but fabulous shop and well worth the 60-90 minute drive from the Denver area. Sara's has a wonderful selection of finished models to temp you and she is a fabulous stitcher herself with lots of great ideas and thread selections.

I loved making the 3-d tassel which was done in turkey work. Starting at the bottom of the tassel you turkey stitch small stitches, then as you progress toward the top of the tassel your loops become longer and longer so that the top loops actually hang over the bottom loops; which after the loops are cut and trimmed the shorter bottom loops are short and thick and give the top loops something to lay upon creating the 3-d effect. It is essential to use a reliable, professional finisher on a piece like this. The toe, tongue and top cuff were all finished out in faux suede. The interior is lined and the cord and ribbon are the finishing touches. Expect to pay between $175 and $225 for one similarly finished.